Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 24 May 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

HSE National Service Plan 2023: Discussion

Mr. Bernard Gloster:

Yes. There are two approaches and the Deputy is 100% correct on it. While while we have seen somewhat of a reduction in attendances this year versus last year, it is increasing for the over-75s. This is part of and implied in the question the Deputy is talking about. My colleagues will be aware that in the short few weeks that I have been here, I have already yesterday mandated the hospital CEOs and community healthcare chief officers to test this coming into the bank holiday weekend. We have a range of services in the community at the moment that do not go into private nursing homes. I have now mandated that all primary care services and specialised teams in the community, like the integrated care for the older people's team and the chronic disease management, would be available to see patients or residents, potentially patients, be they in public nursing homes, private nursing homes or at home. Depending on the demand, there may be some delay or time within that, but that is a new departure for us because the model we have at the moment essentially means that a resident in a nursing home is solely dependent on the determination of the staff in the nursing home and perhaps a GP, in relation to things like a hospital referral.

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